Silicon distribution between blast furnace slag and hot metal

Abstract

Analyses of slag and hot metal in daily average samples from a 1033 m³ blast furnace charged with 100% self-fluxing sinter, and published data from two 2000 m³ furnaces with different proportions of various pellet types in the charge, have been used to calculate the ‘silicate capacity’ of slag and to investigate the effects of basicity and temperature on silicate capacity and silicon distribution ratio. Regression equations have been developed which show that both silicate capacity and silicon distribution ratio increase with increasing basicity and decreasing temperature. The temperature effect is very large compared with the influence of slag basicity. Similar relationships between silicate capacity and temperature are obtained individually for both furnace types as well as by combining their data together and with the data from other furnaces. Silicon distribution ratios calculated by using the silicate capacity of the slag compare well with the results found from slag and metal analyses.